This year’s Finals will take place in the Islas Malvinas competition hall in the city of Mar del Plata. The hall seats around 8,000 spectators.

Lausanne, Switzerland, March 15, 2013 – The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has confirmed that Argentina will host the Finals of the 2013 World League in Mar del Plata from July 17 to 21.

Argentina, in particular the city of Mar del Plata,has an extensive history of hosting volleyball events having staged the FIVB World League Finals in 1999, the 2002 FIVB Men’s World Championship and three FIVB World Tour Opens from 1998 to 2000.In 2010 the city of Cordoba played host to the World League Finals.

The 2013 FIVB World League Intercontinental Round will run from May 31 to July 14. The World League has increased from 16 to 18 teams split into three pools of six. It is the first time the World League will feature 18 teams, having had 16 teams from 2001-2003 and 2006-2012. The World League featured eight teams in its inaugural year in 1990, 10 in 1991 and then 12 from 1992-2000 and 2004-05.

The Finals will feature the top two teams from pools A and B, the winners of pool C and the host nation. As Argentina is in Pool A and is already among the qualified teams, the best ranked team of pool A, not already qualified, will be selected.

At last year’s Finals in Sofia, the Poland team led by coach Andrea Anastasi, picked up their first ever World League title after overcoming USA 3-0 in the final. Cuba collected the bronze medal, their first since 2005, while hosts Bulgaria were also on impressive form as they finished fourth.